We are so excited to share this post today from Clara Harney. This was originally an Expository speech that Clara performed competitively at forensics tournaments, making her a consistent Finalist and in the top 10 of Expository Speakers in California. We hope you enjoy Clara’s research as much as we enjoyed watching her speech! – The Sho.resh Team

A bright and cheerful sunflower…

The double spiral structure of DNA…

A humble pinecone from the forest floor, and Michelangelo’s masterpieces…

These 4 things have a surprising and fascinating link: Fibonacci numbers. A simple math sequence that is found widely in our world. These numbers are so significant that they have actually been nicknamed the “fingerprint of God!” God has used it in his creation, man has used it in design. The Fibonacci sequence is incredible evidence for a creator.

Fibonacci Numbers

But what are Fibonacci numbers? The sequence was named after a mathematician, Leonardo Fibonacci, who discovered these numbers in the 12th century. The sequence begins with 1, followed by another 1, then 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34… The pattern will actually go on forever. Each number in the sequence is the sum of the two numbers before it. What is 1 + 1? 2, of course, which is the next number of the sequence. And what is 1 + 2? 3, our next digit. And 2 + 3 = 5. Do you see the pattern? It will go on forever.

There are many mathematical products of these numbers, including a golden rectangle, a golden spiral, and a golden ratio:

We could go much, much deeper into the mathematics of Fibonacci. However, the real life significance of the numbers is much more interesting.

Fibonacci in Art

So how has the number sequence been utilized by man? Well, the Fibonacci pattern and its products are aesthetically beautiful. Because of its eye pleasing properties, the golden rectangle and ratio have been used by famous artists.

In Michelangelo’s painting The Creation of Adam, the golden ratio point of God and Adam’s horizontal and vertical dimensions appears right where their fingers connect! This must be my favorite example, as it is just too amazing to be coincidence.

Leonardo Da Vinci also used Fibonacci. He contributed illustrations to The Divine Proportion, written by Luca Pacioli, which mainly focused on the mathematics of the golden ratio.

Leonardo incorporated the golden ratio into his paintings, the most famous being The Last Supper. It can be found in the size of the shields, table, and the placement of figures.

We also see examples of Fibonacci used in modern design and architecture. For instance, the United Nations Secretariat building is built with the golden ratio applied. Notice the three golden rectangles:

Even car companies have made use of Phi’s unique properties. The Toyota logo even down to the proportions of the letters is based on the Golden ratio.

“Art is a reflection of God’s creativity, an evidence that we are made in the image of God.”

Also, how could mankind have the ability to calculate mathematics and create beautiful artwork based on those mathematics, if their brains are a product of random chance, and they are just evolved animals? Where does the desire to create beauty and order originate? In Genesis 1:26, God said: “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness.” Because we are made in the image of a creative God, we have the desire to be creative!

Fibonacci in Creation

Finally, we come to Fibonacci numbers in God’s handiwork. To start with, let’s examine flowers. Next time you’re around flowers, count their petals! You’ll often find flowers with petal numbers of 5 or 3, which are numbers in the sequence.

But the center of some flowers, the seed head, also has a connection. Have you noticed the spirals on a sunflower going in both directions?

If you count the spirals going to the left you might find 21 spirals, to the right, 34 spirals, also numbers in the sequence!

The Museum of Science and Industry held a project involving 7 countries in which people grew sunflowers and submitted the spiral counts and measurements. The result? 82% of the sunflowers analyzed showed spiral counts of Fibonacci structure. Amazing, right?

The same thing applies to pinecones, pineapples, cauliflower, and different types of broccoli. The golden sequence and ratio is even found in the honey bee family tree and the dimensions of the human face!

Now let us enter the microscopic world. If we go deep into the human cell we will find B-DNA, a blueprint for life! The measurements of this DNA are roughly 34 by 20-21 angstroms. Once again, numbers of the Fibonacci sequence.

The Significance

So, this leaves the question: Why do these numbers matter to you and to me? Fibonacci numbers matter because they are yet another proof for a designer. According to National Geographic, the most popular theory for the beginning of the universe is the Big Bang. But the complex and orderly universe could not have sprung to life in any way! Imagine if I told you that the computer or phone you’re looking at right now had suddenly appeared on earth, or it had formed slowly over millions of years. You’d probably think I was crazy! That’s because it would be scientifically impossible for something like this to happen. Not a single cell, much less an entire human being could have evolved from nothing. By examining Fibonacci numbers, we see overwhelming evidence that there is a creator. An intelligent, imaginative God who designed with care. Now I want you to consider for a moment how meaningless life would be if you didn’t believe this.

George Smoot, a decorated scientist specializing in a branch of space science, said this:

“When people really understand the Big Bang and the whole sweep of the evolution of the universe, it will be clear that humans are fairly insignificant.”

You see, without a creator you are just a tiny speck on a floating planet in one galaxy out of billions. Your personal life and struggles would mean nothing. Thankfully, as Fibonacci numbers show us, we have much more value than this. You were intentionally created by a loving God. You can live your life with meaning, today, and every day. We were made with a purpose, just like these numbers, to bring glory to our awesome creator. Fibonacci is a mark, a signature to show that God has designed and created you.

I would love to hear from you in the comments section below! What other incredible evidence do we have from God’s creation that evolution is a false theory? How does knowing that God created you with a purpose change your perspective on life today and going forward?